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Regent Holidays

Germany & Poland by Train from the UK: WW2 and Post-War Europe

14-day London to Kraków rail journey through German and Polish WW2 and post-war history

Illustration of Germany & Poland by Train from the UK: WW2 and Post-War Europe

Regent Holidays' 14-day rail journey departs London St Pancras on Eurostar, carrying you through Brussels and Cologne to Berlin, then southeast through Poland to Kraków. The trip explores World War Two history and post-war rebuilding across six cities: you spend three nights in Berlin uncovering the Reichstag, the Topography of Terror, and the East Side Gallery; two nights each in Poznań (the Cathedral Island birthplace of Poland), Gdańsk (where the war's first shots fell, and Solidarity was born), and Warsaw (the UNESCO-listed old town rebuilt from complete wartime destruction); and three nights in Kraków, where you may visit Auschwitz-Birkenau and Schindler's Factory. All train tickets and four-star hotel breakfasts are included. The pace is leisurely, with no hotel changes every night; you explore museums, memorials, and old towns at your own rhythm. This journey suits history-loving couples and repeat rail travellers seeking substantial time in each destination.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotels are listed as 'or similar,' so your exact property may differ from those named, particularly in Poznań, Gdańsk, Warsaw, and Kraków.
  • International flights to London and return from Kraków are not included; Regent Holidays will quote separately.
  • The optional Auschwitz-Birkenau excursion on Day 12 is not included in the base price.
  • Day 14 offers no guided return journey to the UK; you must arrange your own flight or book a separate train ticket.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Pullman Brussels Centre Midi or similar

    London to Brussels

    Travel from London St Pancras by Eurostar to Brussels. On arrival, check in for an overnight stay at the Pullman Brussels Centre Midi or similar. Enjoy an evening stroll through the Grand Place and sample Belgian specialities.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Hotel Hampton by Hilton Berlin City Centre Alexanderplatz or similar

    Brussels to Berlin via Cologne

    This morning, board a high-speed train to Cologne, where you change trains to Berlin (six hours 45 mins), with the option of a longer stopover to admire Cologne Cathedral. On arrival, check in for a three-night stay at the Hotel Hampton by Hilton Berlin City Centre Alexanderplatz or similar. Spend the evening in the lively Hackescher Markt area.

  3. Day 3overnight: Hotel Hampton by Hilton Berlin City Centre Alexanderplatz or similar

    Berlin

    Spend the day uncovering Berlin's complex wartime history: the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Topography of Terror exhibition, and the Jewish Museum.

  4. Day 4overnight: Hotel Hampton by Hilton Berlin City Centre Alexanderplatz or similar

    Berlin

    Today, focus on Berlin's post-war division and reunification: the East Side Gallery, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall Memorial, and Museum Island. Enjoy dinner in a traditional German beer hall.

  5. Day 5railovernight: PURO Hotel Poznań Stare Miasto or similar

    Berlin to Poznań

    Depart Berlin by train to Poznań (around 2 hrs 45 mins). On arrival, check in to PURO Hotel Poznań Stare Miasto or similar for a two-night stay.

  6. Day 6overnight: PURO Hotel Poznań Stare Miasto or similar

    Poznań

    Spend today exploring one of Poland's oldest cities: the Old Market Square, Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski), regarded as the birthplace of Poland, and the Poznań Uprising Museum.

  7. Day 7railovernight: PURO Hotel Gdańsk Stare Miasto or similar

    Poznań to Gdańsk

    This morning, continue by train to Gdańsk (around 3 hrs 30 mins). Check in for a two-night stay at PURO Hotel Gdańsk Stare Miasto or similar. Spend the afternoon exploring the Hanseatic Old Town and the Long Market.

  8. Day 8overnight: PURO Hotel Gdańsk Stare Miasto or similar

    Gdańsk

    Begin with a visit to Westerplatte, where the first shots of the Second World War were fired in 1939, then the Museum of the Second World War and the European Solidarity Centre. Enjoy fresh Baltic seafood in the evening.

  9. Day 9railovernight: PURO Warszawa Stare Miasto or similar

    Gdańsk to Warsaw

    Take the train south to Warsaw (around 2 hrs 45 mins). On arrival, check in to PURO Warszawa Stare Miasto or similar for a two-night stay. Begin exploring the UNESCO-listed Old Town.

  10. Day 10overnight: PURO Warszawa Stare Miasto or similar

    Warsaw

    Today, uncover the city's wartime story: the Warsaw Rising Museum, POLIN: Museum of the History of Polish Jews, and the Palace of Culture and Science. Dine in the atmospheric Nowy Świat district.

  11. Day 11railovernight: PURO Hotel Kraków Stare Miasto or similar

    Warsaw to Kraków

    This morning, travel by train from Warsaw to Kraków (around 2 hrs 40 mins). On arrival, check in to PURO Hotel Kraków Stare Miasto or similar for a three-night stay. Explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town, Market Square, St Mary's Basilica, and Wawel Castle. Dine in the lively Kazimierz district.

  12. Day 12overnight: PURO Hotel Kraków Stare Miasto or similar

    Kraków

    Today is dedicated to reflecting on Kraków's wartime history: an optional guided excursion to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, and Schindler's Factory Museum. Round off the day walking through Kazimierz.

  13. Day 13overnight: PURO Hotel Kraków Stare Miasto or similar

    Kraków

    Enjoy a full day to uncover Kraków's cultural treasures: Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral, the Renaissance Cloth Hall, the Jagiellonian University's Collegium Maius, or a trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Enjoy a traditional Polish dinner for your final evening.

  14. Day 14rail

    Depart Kraków

    Your journey comes to an end today in Kraków. You may choose to return to the UK by flight, continue your travels onward, or take the train back to the UK via Germany.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: Walk through Berlin's Topography of Terror exhibition and visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
  • Day 6Day 6: Explore Poznań's Cathedral Island, regarded as the birthplace of Poland, and the Poznań Uprising Museum.
  • Day 8Day 8: Visit Westerplatte in Gdańsk, where the first shots of the Second World War were fired in 1939, and the European Solidarity Centre.
  • Day 10Day 10: Tour Warsaw's Warsaw Rising Museum and POLIN: Museum of the History of Polish Jews, housed in the capital rebuilt from wartime destruction.
  • Day 12Day 12: Optional guided excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum and Schindler's Factory Museum near Kraków.

Included

  • Accommodation in four-star hotels with breakfast
  • Train tickets: London to Brussels, Eurostar Standard
  • Train tickets: ICE Brussels to Berlin, 2nd class
  • Train tickets: Berlin to Poznan, 2nd class
  • Train tickets: Poznan to Gdansk, 2nd class
  • Train tickets: Gdansk to Warsaw, 2nd class
  • Train tickets: Warsaw to Krakow, 2nd class

Not included

  • International flights - please contact us for best available prices
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional excursions

Questions travellers ask

Which trains does Regent Holidays use?
Eurostar Standard from London St Pancras to Brussels, ICE (InterCity Express) in 2nd class from Brussels to Berlin via Cologne, and regional 2nd-class trains for the legs Berlin to Poznań, Poznań to Gdańsk, Gdańsk to Warsaw, and Warsaw to Kraków.
Are train tickets and hotels included?
Yes. The price includes all seven train journeys and accommodation in four-star hotels with breakfast. International flights are not included.
How many nights do I spend in each city?
Brussels one night, Berlin three nights, Poznań two nights, Gdańsk two nights, Warsaw two nights, and Kraków three nights.
Is this an escorted tour or independent travel?
Regent Holidays arranges accommodation and trains; the itinerary guides you to museums and attractions, but the tour is not fully guided. You explore each city at your own pace.
What is the focus of the itinerary?
World War Two history and post-war European resilience. The tour visits memorials, museums, and historic old towns in Berlin, Poznań, Gdańsk, Warsaw, and Kraków, with an optional excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
How much walking is involved?
Daily walking tours of city centres and museums; expect moderate urban walking and stairs in historic buildings. No hiking or high-altitude terrain.

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